Bill-fold.



J. A. HELLWIG.

BILL FOLD. APPLICATION FILED MAE.19, 1913.

Patented Sept. 16, 19 13.

lm memo W WEM G139. W.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. C

JOHN A. HELL'WIG, 0F ALBANY, NEW YORK.

BILL-FOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 19,1913. Serial No. 755,490.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HnLLwIc, citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill-Folds, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawm s.

This invention relates to an improved bill fold and has for its primary object toprovide a device of this character which is entirely constructed of aluminum 101' other sheet metal whereby the same will be extremely strong and durable, light in wei ht, neat in appearanceand may be manu actured and sold at comparatively small cost.

Another and more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of'a bill fold consisting of a plurality of hingedly connected sheet metal plates or leaves, and

means for compactly folding the bills between the same when said leaves are arranged in relative superposed positions.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of improved means for attaching the bills at one of their ends to the central or intermediate leaf or plate.

A further object ofthe invention resides in the provision of improved means for fastening and retaining the several hingedly connected leaves in their folded or superposed positions.

WVith the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved bill fold showing the same open; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bill fold closed; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line H of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates the central plate or leaf, and 6 and 7 respectively designate the end plates. The opposite edges of the central plate 5 are curved or bent in the same general direction as indicated at 8 while the opposed edges of the end plates 6 and 7 respectively are bent or curved in a relatively opposite direction to the curved edge of the central or intermediate plate: 5 as indicated at 9. These several plates are connected by means of the hinges 10,said hinges'comprising a plural- V ity of knuckles mountedupon a common pintle, said knuckles projecting beyond the outer faces of said plates. The several metal plates 5, 6 and 7 which constitute the body of the bill fold are preferably constructed of aluminum, though it will be understood that other metal may be employed. The free edge of the plate 6 is provided with a flange 11 extending the en tire lengthof said plate, and this flange has formed therein, intermediate of its ends, a longitudinal channel or groove 13. The free edge of the other end plate 7 of the bill fold is inwardly bent as indicated at 7 for a purpose which will become apparent from the following description. g

Upon the innerfaceof the central or body plate 5 adjacent'to one edge thereof, the clamping member 14 is mounted, said member extending longitudinally of the plate. Upon the end edges of the body plate 5, the angularly extending tongues 16 and 17 respectively are formed, and each of these tongues is provided upon its end with an inwardly extending flange 1S and 19 respectively. To the flange 18 of the tongue 16, one end of the clamping member 14 is hingedly connected as shown at 20. The ends of the bills are adapted to be placed between this clamping member and the surface of the body plate 5, and said member forced inwardly from said plate. The tongue 17 is suiiiciently resilient to permit the free end of the member 14 to be forced inwardly between the flange 19 on said tongue and the body plate. This flange engaging over the end of the clamping member 14 retains the same in clamping engagement with the ends of the bills. The longi tudinal edge of the member 14 contiguous to the hinged edge of the plate 7 is rounded or convex as indicated at 21. The plate 7 is now folded inwardly and the bills carried with said plate over and upon the plates 5 and 6. The convex edge 21 of the member 15 obviates liability of tearing or mutilating the bills. The inwardly curved free edge 7 of the plate 7 is provided for a similar purpose. Thus when the other of the hinged plates 6 is folded inwardly upon the plate 7, the ends of the bills are smoothly folded over the curved edge 7 of said plate. The flange 11 on the plate 6 when said plate is in its closed position extends across the hingedly connected edges of the plates and 7, and the projecting knuckles of the hinge are received in thelongitudinal groove or channel 13 provldedvln SZLlClflZLIlgG, thus securely locking the plate 6 in its "closed position and holding the bills compactly folded between the several plates. 7

From theioregoing, it is believed that the construction and manner of use of my improved bill told will be clearly and fully understood. As the device is entirelycorr structed of metal, it will be obvious that -the same is extremely strong and durable and will not show the effects of wear as is. the case with the ordinary leather bill fold;

As shown in Fig. 3, the outer face of the plate 6 may be provided with'a monogram 'or otherwise ornamentally engraved.

7 It is to be understood that the invention may be produced in various sizesand owing to the compact arrangement of'the several parts, the bill told when closed can be readily carried in the pocket without causing the same to bulge. As the longitudinal edges of the leaves or plates are all rounded, the lining of the body will not be torn and liability of the fingers being cut in the use of the device is also avoided.

W iile I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements employed, it will be obvious that. the invention is susceptible of considerable modification without departing tromthe essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the inventionflvhat is claimed is:

1. A bill told comprising a plurality of hingedly mounted at one of its ends upon one of the intermediate plates and contiguous to one of the longitudinal edges thereof, the body of said bar when in its clamping position being disposed in spaced parallel relation to the plate, said bar having a flange formed upon one of its longitudinal edges for engagement with the bills and over which the same are adapted to be folded, one of said plates being provided with means for ,enga ement' with one of the hinges whereby die plates are retained in their folded positions. a y v V 3 A bill fold comprising a pluralityof hingedly connected metal plates, a clamping bar pivotally' mounted at one of its ends upon one of said plates, a yieldable latch tongue carried by said plate for engagement with the free end of said bar to h ld the same in clamping engagement with the bills,-

the other plates being movable into super 7 old. the bins upon and between said plates,

"and means on one of the latter plates on gageabl'e with one of the connecting hinges to retain the plates in their folded position.

4. A bill fold comprising a series 0t upon plates hingcdly connected at their longitudinal edges, tongues forme opposite ends of the intermediate plate adjacent one of its longitudinal edges, a clamp.-

a posed ingbar hingedly mounted at one of its ends 7 upon one of said tongues, the other of said tongues being provided with a flange for engagement with the free end ot the bar to hold the same in clamping engage:

ment with the bills the other of said plates being n'iovable'into superposed relaosedrelation to said first named ,plate to g tion to's'aid first named plate wliereby the V bills are folded between said plates, and means for: detachably lodd g "the plates together;

5. A bill fold comprising a series of hingedly connected plates, clam ing means on the intermediate plate to clamp the-ends of the bills thereto, the other of said plates being movable. into superposed relation to g, V i

the intermediate plate whereby the bills are folded between theplatea one of said latter plates-being provided with a flange having a longitudinal groove formed therein to receive one of the connecting hinges and retain the plates in their tolded position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. HELLWIG.

l/Vitnesses':

AMELIA HELLWIG; HENRY R. HELTJWIG (topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, addressingthe Goininissiener of Patents, Washin ton, not 7 1 

